Fade to Black

Friday evening, I had completed my day's tasks. Realizing how hectic the next week would be and how difficult it would be to get to Great Meadows, I decided for a quick run over to enjoy the last hours of our first warm, dry day all week.

The subtle signs of autumn approaching are all around. The flowers that were blooming in July & August are turning to seed and starting to turn brown, making way for a few late blooming species. The Meadowhawks and Dashers are still visible, but notice that most of the backgrounds have changed from green to brown.











As the sun approached the horizon, I was stuck how it lights up the edges of the grasses and reeds. The warm tones of the setting sun are the perfect complement for the wispy grasses.









On the far side of the lower imoundment a Great Blue Heron, wades in the shadows searching for his dinner.





Oh how quickly the sun descends below the horizon. As it diminishes, the moon starts to exert it's presence in the sky. Even as the disk of the sun has disappeared from view, we try to cling on to those last rays of sun. Their memory will comfort in the dark nights that are ahead.

Happy Labor Day

On Monday morning, with the weather forecast for the rest of the week being wet and cloudy, I thought it prudent to visit Great Meadows for a quick update.  Since it was Labor Day, my wife Amy decided to accompany me.

Sometimes I feel I'm in a photographic rut on this project.  Bringing Amy along was a good tonic for that.  Since she hasn't visited nearly as often, she sees the refuge differently, forcing me to stop and take another look.  It was amazing what I walked by, just to return, to see what was she photographing.

The refuge is slowly starting to make the transition from summer into autumn.  The green color of summer, is slowly giving way to the earth tones of reds, orange, and brown of fall.

Here are a few favorites from our perambulation of the lower impoundment.


Ladybug on Evening Primrose


Warbling Vireo


Spider webs abounded along the Dike Trail. Here is the winner of largest web...and largest spider


Another subtle sign of autumn's approach


As we wandered along the Edge Trail through the woods it was amazing the variety of mushrooms that we encountered. By the time we got done, the front of my clothes were covered in dirt and leaf mold, and my knees were filthy. Here are a few of my favorite mushroom photos.

Random Walk, Random Shots

Yesterday's visit to Great Meadows was more photo journalism about the hurricane and the bird walk activities.  Today, I wanted to spend some time focused on my photographic techniques and observation of nature, so I was back at Great Meadows early Wednesday morning.

With no particular agenda besides making carrying my long lens worthwhile, I wandered around the refuge.  Here are a few of my favorite images from the day